Spike-extractor.



Patented Mar. I8, .1902. J. w. PITTS. SPIKE :xTnAcr'oa.

Ill

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH \V. PITTS, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

SPI KE-EXTRACTO R.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 695,487, dated March 18, 1902.

I Application filed March 13, 1901. Serial No. 50,984. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH W. PITTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Augusta, in the county of Richmond and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Spike-Extractor, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in spike-extractors.

'The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of spike-extractors and to provide a simple, inexpensive,and efficientione adapted to readily extract a spike from a cross-tie without bending or otherwise injuring the same and capable of afiording a firm bearing for the lever and of' enabling the bearing to be readily shifted as the spike is extracted.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement-of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a spike extractor constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the same arranged for extracting a spike. 2 is a similar view showing the arrangement of the fulcrum or bearing block when the spike is extracted. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the spike-extractor. Fig.4 is a rear elevation of the same. 1

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a lever provided with a spikeengaging claw 2 and having a depending heel 3 located in the rear of the spike-engaging claw and extending downward at an approximately acute angle to the same and having a rounded lower edge to fit a corresponding concave bearing-face of a bearing or fulcrum block 4. The claw, which is tapered, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is adapted to engage a spike beneath thehead thereof in the usual manner, and the fulcrum or hearing block, which is curved, 'is provided at its inner end with a recess 5 to receive the rounded heel. The

curved bearing-block, which hasa straight inner or front face, presents an upper concave face and has a lower convex face, whlch Fig.

is rounded or convexly curved. The recess forms the concave face and providessides or flanges 6, which are perforated for the reception of a pivot 8. The concave bearingface is adapted to relieve the pivot of strain, and it is arranged concentric with the pivot, similar to the curved lower edge of the heel. The hearing or fulcrum block is connected at one end with the said heel, and its lower face is curved and forms a cam and is adapted to fit against the upper face of the crosstie while the spike is being extracted, The curved cam-face of the bearing or fulcrum block is provided at opposite sides with spurs 9, arranged at intervals and adapted to be embedded in the upper face of the cross-.

tie, whereby the bearing-block will aiford a firm support in any position which it may 0ccupy during the extraction of a spike, and while the spike is being extracted there is no liability of the fulcrum or bearing block rocking backward and causing the lever to bend the spike. The spurs are provided with inner or front beveled faces and with outer or rear shoulders to enable them to slide readily over the upper face of across-tie when the le ver is lifted and to engage the cross-tie firmly when the pressure is applied to the lever. The lever is adapted to exert a straight upward pull on a spike, and after the latter has been partially extracted the lever. may be slightly lifted to permit the bearing or fulcrum block to swing inward automatically beneath the heel. The fulcrum-block extends rearward and upwardbeyond the depending heel when the partsare arranged as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, and it is adapted to swing inward automatically when the lever merges into the outer end face, and the latter is raised, until it occupies a position substanbeing provided with a straight face and having a recess receiving the heel, and the tapering spurs having front or inner beveled faces and rear or outer shoulders and arranged at intervals, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' JOSEPH W. PI'ITS.

lVitnesses:

J. S. REYNOLDS, P. H. CRAIG.- 

